Have your questions about roses answered live by an expert

[Tara]

Hi everyone,

Canadian Gardening magazine's editor-at-large, Stephen Westcott-Gratton will be available for one hour Tues. May 26, 2009 at 1 p.m. EDT to personally answer your questions about roses. Please come back to this post to pose your questions!

Have a great weekend and see you here next week!

Tara
Web Editor, CanadianGardening.com

[Laura]

Thanks for the heads up Tara ....I hope he's a speed typist ....

[sjwg]

Now there's a subject I wish I had taken in high school!
Anyway, never fear, I'll get around to answering everyone eventually.
Looking forward to it, and heading outside now to prune my seven 'Stanwell Perpetual' bushes to get me in the mood...
See you on Tues aft!
Stephen

[MareE]

LOL Me too, Stephen. Hunt 'n' peckin' is extremely wearisome.

Fortuitous subject. Been struggling with an overgrown rose bush with a nasty temperament this aft and wondering if it's too late to cut it back completely, like down to 2 feet.

Look forward to your Q&A!

(Momentarily thought skwij here was an undercover CG editor-at-large. LAFF)

MareE;o}

[Eeyore]

I wouldn't think so MareE but we'll let the expert answer. I've pruned 3 of mine already and the other 4 need to be done. I had a lot of winter kill this year and they are all down to about a foot. These are hardy roses so no harm in cutting these babies down!

[CreativeGardener]

Hello,

I always wanted to know about the myth of planting garlic close to rose bushes to prevent pests.
Is this true? Does this really work?


Thank you so much!

~ Gabriela ~
http://gabrieladelworth.com

[Laura]

I hope I can still get some help with my question even though I will not be here for the live conversation .... darn appointments.

Anyway,I have a hybred tea rose named Oklahoma.Each year when it blooms it get this (I think fungus) ...black markings on the blooms only not on the leaves.The flowers still come out fully and mostly the outside pedals are effected.The only insects I ever see on the plant is aphids which I pick off by hand and squish.I also fertilize once a month from may until august.

What can I do to get rid of this ?

Here is a picture I hope will help.....



Thanks

[Tara]

Get your rose questions ready! Stephen will be online in 10 minutes to answer your questions!

[sjwg]

Hi MareE,

No it's not too late to cut back your roses. Just remember to cut just above a bud that is facing in the direction that you want the replacement shoot to grow.
Best, Stephen W-G

[sjwg]

Hi Gabriela,

To the best of my knowledge, "roses and garlic" in primarily anecdotal--I don't know of any conclusive scientific studies to prove that it works. However, the thinking is that any member of the onion family (onions, garlic, ornamental alliums) release sulphur into the soil which is a natural fungicide, and a strongsmell and flavour that most bugs avoid. Other plants (mostly strong herbs) have also been suggested as effective: rosemary, thyme and tansy for example. Remember though, that you must remain mindful of how it's all going to look; not everyone likes garlic sprouting up through their 'The Queen Elizabeth.'
Good luck!, Stephen